Chris Becker

Last night’s first session of the trading week lacked any major catalysts with stocks on both sides of the Atlantic slipping, Wall Street more so as oil prices took a dive despite some more strategic building of US reserves.

Asian share markets are doing poorly in the first session of the trading week despite the rebound on Wall Street on Friday night with the weekend gap providing some volatility.

Friday night saw some soft-ish comments from Fed Chair Powell force bond yields and the USD lower, giving Wall Street a bump up higher instead.

Asian share markets are fumbling in the final session of the trading week as a stronger USD dominates risk sentiment although a swathe of contradictory PMI readings from Japan, Australia and China kept currency and bond markets second guessing.

Bond yields rebounded overnight as the USD firmed strongly against the currency majors, leaving to wobbly returns on Wall Street despite a decline in PCE inflation numbers.

Asian share markets are doing a better job in finishing the trading week with mostly positive returns as the USD strength eases off slightly.

Bond yields fell back again but the USD finally found some life overnight on the back of upwardly revised 3Q GDP data while a slower than expected German CPI print was a headwind for Euro.

Bond yields fell back slightly alongside the USD overnight on the back of mixed US economic data and reactions to a slew of Fed speeches, while stock markets coasted through without much volatility.

Asian share markets are struggling to post positive returns with the USD coming back slightly after a stumble on Friday night with Wall Street expected to again open a little lower following the wobbly session post the Thanksgiving holiday and absorbing last night’s disappointing home sales data.

Stock markets fell back slightly alongside bond yields overnight as risk sentiment remained somewhat muted in the absence of key economic data with a focus on very soft US new home sales data.